Agriculture

Commercial manure applicators should plan to attend the Commercial Manure Applicator training program scheduled for Thursday, January 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will conduct the required three-hour training workshop at that time. There is no fee to attend the workshop, but commercial applicators must register by Dec. 30 by contacting the hosting ISU Extension and Outreach office. The workshop will be hosted at the following county offices: Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, and Winneshiek.

By Sara Berges, Allamakee SWCD Project Coordinator

We know that lower commodity prices mean that profit margins are tight.  So how can landowners encourage conservation on their ground?  One important aspect of rental arrangements is good communication.  It is important that both parties understand what is expected for the maintenance of the land including what crops will be planted and what conservation practices will be utilized.

There are many ways landowners can play a role in ensuring that their land is well-managed and protected against erosion and the destruction of soil health.  They can take on some (or all) of the cost of conservation practices.  Landowners typically cover the cost of structural practices like terraces and ponds, but they can also help pay for cover crops or other practices.   An alternative would be to reduce rent if specific practices, like cover crops or no-till, are used. 

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

December 15:    County FSA Committee Meeting/Election 9 a.m.
December 15: Deadline for fall certification of forage and pasture areas
December 16: Deadline for 2017 MPP sign-up

County Committee Election
Ballots have been collected and the FSA Committee will tally them on Thursday, December 15. We want to convey our thanks to both Daryl Rud and Lyle Stock who agreed to be nominees for the position on our important farmer represented FSA committee. 

Fall Certification
December 15 is the deadline to timely file your fall certification of hay, grass, forage and pasture fields on your farms. This is a report of any grass or hay crops that will be seeded over the winter and that you plan to use as forage or pasture in crop year 2017. 

Annie’s Project, a six-week course designed especially to help farm women develop their management and decision-making skills, is being offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County. Online registration is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/womeninag or at the Allamakee County Extension office.

Classes will be held at the Allamakee County Extension Office Mondays from 6-9 p.m. beginning January 30 and continuing February 6, 13, 20 and 27, and March 6.  A light supper will be provided at 5:30 p.m. and is included in the registration cost.

Farm women participating in Annie’s Project courses become better business partners and owners by learning to manage and organize critical information for their own farms, while establishing networks with other farm women and agriculture business professionals.

Practical Farmers of Iowa is now accepting registrations for its 2017 annual conference, “Pass It On,” which will take place January 20-21 at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building, on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. All are welcome to attend. Register online at http://practicalfarmers.org.

This year’s theme celebrates the impact of farmer-to-farmer learning on farmers’ confidence to explore new or different farming practices, and their ability to improve farm profitability and land stewardship. Attendees will learn from their farming peers about different approaches to conserving money and soil; growing and marketing a range of crops; keeping good-quality financial and production records, accessing land and capital and more.

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

December 12:    Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 13: Deadline: County Committee election ballots returned to the Allamakee County FSA office
December 15:    Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 15:    County Committee meeting at 9:15am
December 16:    Deadline: 2017 MPP coverage election decision
December 26:    Office closed due to Holiday

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

November 24: Office closed due to Thanksgiving
December 1: Deadline: NAP application for Honey
December 5: Deadline: County Committee ballots returned to the Allamakee County FSA office
December 12: Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 15: Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 16: Deadline: 2017 MPP coverage election decision

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) Application Deadline Approaching for Honey Producers

by Cindy Mensen, Acting Allamakee County Executive Director (563) 568-2148

ATTENTION FARMERS - REMINDER:

November 21: Deadline: NAP for Apples, Aronina Berries, and Grapes
November 24: Office closed due to Thanksgiving
December 1: Deadline: NAP for Honey
December 12: Deadline: ECP application sign up
December 15:    Deadline: Acreage intended to be used for forage and pasture in 2017 needs to be reported to FSA
December 16: Deadline: 2017 MPP decision

No matter the farm enterprise, wintertime allows farmers a chance to reflect on the previous year and consider adjustments to improve their operation the following year. In order to support farmers’ efforts to continually improve, Practical Farmers of Iowa offers a free webinar series – called “farminars” – featuring practical knowledge on a range of topics for row crop, livestock and fruit and vegetable producers.

Beginning on Nov. 15 and continuing every Tuesday through Dec. 20, each farminar focuses on a unique production or business management topic. All presentations are led by an experienced farmer or subject-matter expert, and attendees are able to ask questions in real time using a chatbox while they listen and watch a slideshow. Farminars start at 7 p.m. CST on Tuesday evenings and last 90 minutes.

by Sara Berges
Allamakee SWCD

Commodity prices are expected to remain fairly stable for the next few years.  These lower prices are forcing farmers to focus more on input costs and return on investment (ROI) rather than just yields and revenue. The ROI shows a ratio of money gained or lost on an investment relative to the cost of the investment. Another way to look at it is how to get the biggest bang for the buck when looking at input costs (chemicals, seed, fertilizer, equipment, etc.) and expected yields and profits.